61. Zeina
ZEINA
Back in her dorm, tucked under her bedsheets, Zeina opened the cover of the book she had stolen from Loveleena’s dorm room.
The first page was blank, so she flipped to the next. But it was blank too. She flipped to the middle of the book and there was nothing there either; the whole book was blank.
Weird.
She flipped through each page, picking up her speed when the pages started to glow. With each turn, the light increased, until she finally reached the brightest page. The light pulsed gently, and a soft voice filled her mind.
Was this the voice of the book itself?
She would have been shocked if she weren’t so used to Aria communicating that way.
Zeina Veloria. Descendant of Ember and Misha Veloria.
Zeina said nothing.
Your magic is just awakening, but it is very strong. You have been given the gift of metaphysical knowing and feeling. You’re a reader.
Zeina didn’t know what the word metaphysical meant, and she racked her brain trying to remember if she had heard it before.
You understand what cannot be seen. Intentions. Energies. Personal character. The book said, reading her thoughts.
It was something Zeina hadn’t been able to put words to. Something she hadn’t quite known but felt deep within her. She couldn’t just read people. It was creatures too.
And plants, the book said telepathically. It makes you quite the gifted Alchemist.
Can you tell me about other people’s magic? Zeina asked the book in her mind, realizing she could converse with it as she did Aria.
No.
Why not?
Silence. The book refused to answer.
She was about the ask another question when Lennox walked through the dorm door, and Zeina snapped the book closed, clutching it in her arms.
Lennox barely looked at her as he sighed, collapsing onto his bed. “That woman will be the death of me,” he said, his hand clutching his heart.
“Get a grip. You sound like a love-sick loser,” Zeina said dryly.
Lennox sat up, finally looking at her. “Thanks, Zeina. I can always count on you to humble me.”
Zeina remained expressionless as Lennox’s eyes travelled down from her face to the book she held, and she clutched it a little tighter.
“Is that?” His eyes widened and he shot off the bed. “I’ve been looking for that book everywhere. How did you get it?” He tried grabbing it, but Zeina held it out of his grasp, stuffing it underneath her.
“None of your business.”
“Zeina,” Lennox reasoned, sitting on her bed. “Do you know what that book is?”
A telepathic, magical, blank book with consciousness? “No.”
“Did you open it?” Lennox shuffled closer to her, and she instinctively leaned away from him. Should she lie? Was it better to pretend she didn’t know anything? Or be honest? She chewed her lower lip.
“You opened it.” He knew.
“So what if I did?”
Lennox smiled. “So, you know you have magic then?”
Zeina paused for a long time before she spoke. “Yes. But I don’t understand how.”
“You will, in time.” He leaned back on his hands, giving her a bit of space. “So, what are you then? I mean I have my suspicions, but I can’t be sure.”
Zeina wondered if she should tell him. Besides the creatures, and her growing relationship with Ahmina, he was the only friend she had. If anyone found out…
“I’m not going to tell anyone, Zeina.”
“How do I know you wouldn’t?”
“You’re still sleeping safely in my dorm, aren’t you?”
He had a point.
“Metaphysical reading,” she said after a long period of silence.
Lennox nodded, thinking to himself. “Thought so.”
“How do you know what this book does? How do you know about human magic?” Zeina understood it in theory, but she hadn’t had time to truly process it. “You suspected it. How?”
Lennox looked at her, his face serious. “Because I have it too.”